Finding Peace and Purpose in a New Year
Tuesday, January 1, 2013 at 4:26PM 
May peace be in your heart this new year. Fr. Dan Riley, OFM, shares a reflection asking all of us, what's my purpose? What am I called to do? Fr. Dan invites us to empty ourselves and sit, wait and listen...listen to the Word of God calling us to be children -- now -- with purpose, value and direction.
Listen below, reflect on the reading, leave a comment and share with others!
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Readings:
John 3: 1-2, 21-24
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
And so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.
Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us,
we have confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit he gave us.
Photos:
Two images from inside La Paz hermitage, where Fr. Dan lives.
"Empty yourself and sit waiting content with the grace of God."
Music:
- Music, "You Are Child," by Cyprian Consiglio (used with permission).
Comments and Share:
The Light and Peace of Christmas
Monday, December 24, 2012 at 5:52PM Merry Christmas! May today and this season be full of light as the people who walked in darkness had seen a great light. Fr. Dan Riley, OFM, shares a reflection about the Birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Listen below, reflect on the reading, leave a comment and share with others!
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Readings:
There are many readings for Christmas depending upon which Mass you attend.
Photos:
Two images from the Mountain: La Paz hermitage on Dec. 24 and Mary and the Christ Child in the Holy Peace Chapel.
Music:
- Music, "Let Us Go to Bethlehem" and "A Light Will Shine On Us This Day," by Cyprian Consiglio (used with permission).
Comments and Share:
The Peace of Soon and Near
Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 12:52PM In this third week of Advent, our expectations rise more as the Lord is near. But how far is near? What does soon mean? Fr. Dan Riley, OFM, shares this reflection to describe the need for the peace of soon and near in our lives. We need peace in our lives. Take time to be quiet together or alone.
Listen below, reflect on the reading, leave a comment and share with others!
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Readings:
Luke 3: 10-18
The crowds asked John the Baptist,
"What should we do?"
He said to them in reply,
"Whoever has two cloaks
should share with the person who has none.
And whoever has food should do likewise."
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him,
"Teacher, what should we do?"
He answered them,
"Stop collecting more than what is prescribed."
Soldiers also asked him,
"And what is it that we should do?"
He told them,
"Do not practice extortion,
do not falsely accuse anyone,
and be satisfied with your wages."
Now the people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
"I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor
and to gather the wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Exhorting them in many other ways,
he preached good news to the people.
Photo:
Fr. Dan often creates artwork to convey prayer and reflections. Below is an Advent wreath he created.
Music:
- Opening and closing music, "Echo of Your Peace," by Cyprian Consiglio.
Comments and Share:
Doormats of Advent
Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 7:48PM Doormats can have a welcoming presence. Do we pay attention to the words on them as we walk into a room? During this second week of Advent, Fr. Dan Riley, OFM, invites us to prepare our hearts and our doorways with the joy of the season.
Listen below, reflect on the reading, leave a comment and share with others!
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Music:
- Opening and closing music, "Echo of Your Peace," by Cyprian Consiglio.
Comments and Share:
Advent. A season of expectation and promise, not of anxiety. Fr. Dan walks with us through this reflection so amid the anxiety of our life journeys, we come to know that amid the turmoil, we can stand up and celebrate the joy of the season, a season of expectation. Let us not cower, but gather to help each other stand up in the world.
Listen below, reflect on the reading, leave a comment and share with others!
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Readings:
Psalm 25: 4-5
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for you I wait all the day.
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Jesus said to his disciples:
"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man."
Photo:
Fr. Dan often creates artwork to convey prayer and reflections. Below is an Advent wreath he created.
Music:
- Opening and closing music, "Echo of Your Peace," by Cyprian Consiglio.
Comments and Share:
Expectation and Joy of Advent
Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 1:27AM Advent. A season of expectation and promise, not of anxiety. Fr. Dan walks with us through this reflection so amid the anxiety of our life journeys, we come to know that amid the turmoil, we can stand up and celebrate the joy of the season, a season of expectation. Let us not cower, but gather to help each other stand up in the world.
Listen below, reflect on the reading, leave a comment and share with others!
Listen On iTunes:
Listen On This Webpage:
Readings:
Psalm 25: 4-5
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for you I wait all the day.
Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Jesus said to his disciples:
"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.
"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man."
Photo:
Fr. Dan often creates artwork to convey prayer and reflections. Below is an Advent wreath he created.
Music:
- Opening and closing music, "Echo of Your Peace," by Cyprian Consiglio.
